Friday, August 13, 2010

Fate of HSUS Ballot Initiative Lies with Judge

Despite Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan verifying signatures for a ballot proposal initiated by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and other animal rights groups, the final determination of whether or not the initiative will be on ballots this November rests in the hands of a Cole County judge.

A legal challenge filed by the Missouri Federation of Animal Owners (MoFED), was heard by the judge earlier this week, with MoFED citing biased and unfair ballot language, an insufficient fiscal note estimate by the State Auditor and other technical and constitutional challenges.

While a decision could take up to two weeks, the final outcome could keep the deceptive initiative from being brought before voters who are being led to believe laws regulating dog breeders in Missouri are lacking, although that notion is far from the truth. The ballot initiative would provide a series of redundant mandates on kennel owners already covered by a litany of state and federal rules and regulations, reports the Missouri Corn Growers Association. Adequate rules and regulations are not the problem; funding and enforcement are, the group said. This initiative does nothing to address either issue.

With long-term implications to all agriculture producers, this is an issue in which Missouri Corn will remain engaged in working against the tactics of groups such as HSUS.